According to the State Election Commission, Matiala Ward of South Delhi Municipal Corporation recorded the lowest voter turnout, at 33 per cent, in municipal corporation by-elections on Sunday. On the other hand, Bhati Ward had the maximum voter turnout, at 64 per cent.

There are 13 wards in Delhi. In Matiala Ward, residents from sectors 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 19, 22 and 23 of Dwarka cast their vote.

Residents cited several reasons, from lack of interest and ignorance to hot weather, for the poor turnout.

Rejimon CK, a resident of Nav Sansad Vihar CGHS, Sector 22, who had been carrying out an awareness campaign for hundred per cent turnout at polling booths, said, "There was no interest in the by-election or the councillor election. Sweltering heat and lack of hype affected the voting."

Vijay Kumar, a resident of Sector 5, said, "This was an election for candidates who have less than a year to work, as elections will be held again next year for a fresh term. I feel this by-election was just a formality. It should have taken place earlier, within the six months of the seat becoming vacant. People didn't turn up because they felt neglected by the corporation."

Arvind Rudra, a resident of Harmony Apartments in Sector 4, said, "Just a couple of days before the election, a resident in my society saw an election campaign in the market and seemed clueless about any by-election. The authorities definitely left a gap in communicating to the masses. This could've affected turnout."